Question of the day - where do you find good Mexican food?
Huarache from El Rey Del Taco in Astoria Over the years we’ve heard from various CA expats that there is no good Mexican food in NYC. That may be true if you are looking for a Mission style burrito, but there is good regional Mexican food in the city. Many of the Mexicans in NYC…
Huarache from El Rey Del Taco in Astoria
Over the years we’ve heard from various CA expats that there is no good Mexican food in NYC. That may be true if you are looking for a Mission style burrito, but there is good regional Mexican food in the city. Many of the Mexicans in NYC come from Puebla, which is thousands of miles away from the CA/Mexico border, and the food is a bit different in that region compared to the Cal-Mex many Americans are used to. So tell us – where do you like to eat Mexican food in the city? Bonus points for Queens restaurants, food carts, or food trucks. Leave us a comment here or via twitter at @queensnycity!
I’ve tried the tacos de lengua from the cart right in front of the north exit of the 74th-Roosevelt Ave station, and they weren’t bad. I’ve also tried a few others in JH that were ok. For the love of god do NOT get anything from the taco trucks that park near 46th St. in Sunnyside, they are HORRIBLE.
I’m from New Mexico, and I am most definitely in the camp of no good Mexican food in NYC, with one exception: Los Portales in Astoria. Their veal flank tacos are divine, and everything else I’ve had there is really good. Thank god I found this place.
Gabe I feel your pain and subsequent relief at finding Los Portales. Have you tried La Superior in Williamsburg? Had a great few tacos there. In LIC I like some dishes at Casa Enrique, some dishes are more Yucateca than Norteño but Enrique is on site most of the time and his kitchen staff love to accommodate suggestions when delivered with great feedback. As much as I like Enrique’s, at the end of the day I’ve still not found a Chile Relleno or Pozole to break my heart, as I come to expect when I’m at my favorite places on the west coast.
I haven’t, Randall, but thanks for the recs! I myself miss menudo, which I’ve just given up on having east of the Mississippi. Ah well, a treat when I go home. I think I need to learn how to cook it myself.
Cinco de Mayo on Bell Blvd in Bayside!!! Their steak dishes are delicious!! GREAT GREAT GREAT sangria as well!
I live in Astoria, and I’ve found Los Portales the best for tacos (especially their Al Pastor) and El Mariachi the best all around (mole negro, enchaladas suizas, anything with chorizo). The lady that sells tamales Sunday mornings on Broadway & 37th is fantastic as well. I also really enjoy Pachanga Patterson (fish tacos, guacamole, cocktails) for my “gringo” fix. It’s not Empellon, but it’s inexpensive and down the block from my apartment. Tacos Mexico, La Cabana and Homemade Taqueria are all ok, and I’ve found the El Rey Taco truck to be wildly overrated.
For truly great Mexican food, I take the R or 7 a few stops out to Jackson Heights or Corona. Any of the carts out there are better and cheaper than anything in Astoria, but I want to single out the quesadillas at the cart on Roosevelt between 74th & 75th (chicken tinga and flor de calabesa are my favorites) and the gorditas de chicherron at the cart on 111th just off of Roosevelt (might be my single favorite Mexican dish in NYC.
My favorite Mexican restaurant is Los Molcajete at 25-22 30th Avenue in Astoria. I mostly go for the tortas, sandwiches with great fillings. Aside from the meat of your choice, it’s topped with beans, mayo, avocado, onion, tomato, lettuce, and pepper. I usually get the pierna torta, sliced pork loin with all the toppings. Delicious! They have lunch specials, platters, during the week from noon to 4 PM, three specials per day. Los Molcajete doesn’t look like a restaurant from the outside. It looks more like a bakery. Looks can be deceiving.
los Portales on Broadway in Astoria. Get the spicy pork tacos.
I haven’t tried La Herradura yet but I’ll go next time I’m up that way. I’ll definitely get some arroz con leche and sweet pink tamales next time I see Ms. Carranza. That sounds awesome. Thanks for the tips!